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drawingboard LESSONS IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN BY COURTNEY FADNESS Alternatives to painted drywall P ainted drywall is so ubiquitous in home construction that it’s easy to overlook other options. Certainly, painted drywall has its virtues. It’s inexpensive, easy to install, easy to modify, and it works in any space. An inherent quality of drywall is the smoothness of its finish. However, left on its own, drywall can actu ally look a bit too perfect, a bit too sterile, and thus lack character and richness—even if painted in the most perfect shade. Visual interest is born from creating visual tension. This is most easily Wood Ideal use: Living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms Consider: Vertical or horizontal planking, board-andbatten treatments, paneling, wainscot, detailed moldings Wood is an incredibly versatile surface treatment, partly due to the vast array of finish options available. Natural, stained, painted, pickled, whitewashed—all can be used to support a conceptual direction. Wood left in its natural finish feels cozy and warm. Painted wood lends itself to a fresh, clean, and overall subtle effect. Wood treatments can be used to create architectural character as well. For example, a traditional quality can be created by adding a board-and-batten treatment to walls, or by introducing moldings such as an oversize base, cornice, and picture rail. Wood also can be employed to enhance or diminish existing features of a room. Run vertically, wood boards can visually lift the ceiling. Similarly, horizontally oriented boards visually expand the width of the space. 92 FINE HOMEBUILDING Design example: Planking in a living room 6-in. poplar shiplap planks create clean, crisp, horizontal lines that keep the space from feeling overly tall by countering the vertically oriented fireplace and doors. The distinctive 1⁄4-in. channel between each board creates texture and adds graphic interest in an otherwise sparse, contemporary space. The white painted finish on the boards does a better job of reflecting natural light than painted drywall and creates a bright, airy feel. Simple, square-edge base moldings and window and door casings mimic the crisp detailing of the wall boards and reinforce a clean, unfussy look. The width of the planks on the wall is similar to the width of the wood flooring, creating harmony among the materials and helping to unify the room. Drawings: Matthew Schiffer, AIA achieved by utilizing contrast. Instead of leaving every room clad in drywall alone, I create interest, depth, and richness in interior spaces by incorporating alternative wall treatments with materials such as wood, tile, and natural stone. Here I discuss these options and highlight the details within projects that successfully put these materials to use. Courtney Fadness is an interior designer in the United Kingdom.